Shoe-fastening.



A. G. MEAD. SHOE. FASTENING.

(Applistion filed m). a, 1909.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT G. MEAD, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCHARLES J. ADDY AND JOHN T. HUGGINS, OF MALDEN, MASSAGHU- SETTS.

SHOE-FASTENING.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,665, dated June17, 1 902.

Application filed February 3, 1902. Serial No. 92 ,422. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. MEAD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Shoe-Fastenings, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing likeparts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novelshoe-fastening more espeisilally adapted for use with overshoes and theMy novel fastening comprises a slotted plate and a complemental part ordevice having a tongue to engage one or the other slot of the plate,said device when the tongue engages a slot of the plate being turned asa lever and locking itself to the plate, closing the parts of the shoetightly across the instep or other place where the fastening is used.The tongue is extended outwardly below the outer end of said device andis inclined, so that as the strain on the shoe increases the hold of thedevice is made more certain.

Figure 1 shows part of an overshoe with my fastening secured to thesame. Fig. 2 shows one part of the fastening in position to be locked inplace. Fig. 3 is a section of the device, showing the fastening fullyclosed. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the device detached. Fig. 5 is aplan view of the slotted plate detached, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectionof the fastening.

The plate A is provided with a series of slots a of any desired number,and at one end said plate has, as represented, a slot (1., that is usedto connect the plate with a fiap or part b of an overshoe or the like B.The plate also has near its edges suitable grooves a The complementalpart or device 0 is shown as bent to present side flanges o, shaped atthe inner end of said device to enter the grooves a said complementaldevice .having a connected tongue 0 extended outwardly beyond the outerend thereof and preferably ofiset or inclined, as at 2, in the directionof its length, said tongue being located, preferably as shown, at theinner or under side of the device and extending backwardly, as at 3,beyond the outer end of said device, said device having a slot, as 4, bywhich to attach the device toanother part, as b, of the overshoe. Theparts of the tongue and complemental device 0, extending inward from theolfset portion 2 to the end of the device at 5, are preferably broughttogether,'as shown, so that an ex tended bearing may be secured betweenthe extended end of the complemental device 0 and the plate A and aconvenient form of op erating handpiece be provided.

Referring to Fig. 1, the two parts of the fastoning are separated; butin Fig. 2 the complemental device is shown in position with relation tothe slotted plate to enable the fastening to be closed, the tongue ofthe complemental device being placed above one of the slots of the plateand the side walls 0 of .the complemental device resting against theplate in the line of the grooves a Now in this condition the device willbe turned over to ,the right, Fig. 2, into the position Fig. 3, and inso doing the complemental device will be turned over as a lever, thetongue entering fully the slot and fastening itself securely to theplate, the strain on the fabric 1) acting when the fastening is closedto draw the two parts of the fastening more closely together. It will benoticed that the side walls 0 of the device enter the grooves a so thata skirt, pantaloons, or-

any other article of clothing cannot catch under the closed end of thecomplemental device, and to unloosen the fastening it is onlynecessaryto engage the inner end of the device or that end designated 5,Fig. 3, and lift it from contact with the plate A and immediately thefastening is disconnected. My improved fastoning is composed, therefore,really of two pieces, is easy to make, and more simple to operate.

As herein shown, the tongue forms a part of the complemental device; butthis invention is not limited to making the tongue as an integral partof the complemental device,

as it will be obvious that the tongue might be made separate and besuitably attached to the body of the complemental device by a stud orotherwise;but the one-piece construction is preferable.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. In a fastening of the class described, a slotted plate havinglongitudinal grooves and adapted to be connected at one end with part ofa shoe, and a complemental device comprising a body having inturnedportions to enter said grooves and having a projecting tongue to enterone of said slots, the device thereafter being capable of being turnedon the slotted plate to cause the entrance of the tongue into the slotand confine the device on the face of the plate.

2. In a fastening of the class described, a slotted plate adapted to beconnected with a part of a shoe, and a complemental device having arigidly-connected tongue extending outwardly therefrom toward the pointof attachment of said complemental device, the tongue being adapted toenter one of the slots of the plate and the complemental device as awhole being thereafterturned about the engaging portion of the tongueand plate as a fulcrum to complete the locking of said fastoning, thetongue and complemental device being extended inward and broughttogether to form an operating hand portion.

3. In a fastening of the class described, a slotted plate adapted to beconnected with a part of a shoe, and a complemental device having arigidly-connected tongue projecting from the outer end of the device,and provided with a slot at the portion of the device adjacent the freeend of the tongue for connection with a part of a shoe, said tonguebeing offset between its ends, the tongue being adapted to enter one ofthe slots of the plate,

the device being thereafter turned on the body of the plate as a leverto complete the locking of the device on the plate, said tongue andcomplemental device being extended inwardly and brought together to forman op erating hand portion.

4:. In a fastening of the class described, a slotted plate adapted to beconnected to one part of a shoe, and a compleinental device having anintegrally-formed tongue extending toward the point of attachment of thecomplemental device, said tongue being offset or inclined in thedirection of its length from the under side of said complemental device,the free end of the tongue projecting beyond the outer end of saidcomplemental device, said tongue and compleinental device being extendedinwardly and brought together at the portions thereof remote from thefree end of the tongue to form an operat ing hand portion.

5. A fastening of the class described comprising a slotted plate forattachment to a part of a shoe, a complemental device having arigidly-connected tongue for engagement with the slotted plate, the sideedges of said device on opposide sides of the tongue being downturned tobear upon the opposed edges of the plate when the parts are in lookingposition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALBERT G. MEAD.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN C. EDWARDS, EDITH M. STODDARD.

